I never thought I’d spend my 30s figuring out how to save money on a low income, while juggling a small business, family drama, and the occasional existential crisis.
But here I am.
Hi, I’m Lindiwe, 32, living in the buzzing heart of Johannesburg. My apartment is a mix of beauty products, laundry, and the faint smell of essential oils. It’s my office, my sanctuary, and my safe space.
Some days, I feel like a tightrope walker, balancing my skincare business on one side, family obligations on the other, and my own sanity somewhere in the middle. And yes, I joke about it to survive, because sarcasm is cheaper than therapy.
Black Tax and Family Life
Being the eldest child has its perks. They say you’re responsible, wise, and mature. They don’t tell you it also means carrying black tax like a part-time job you never applied for.
My mother is aged and requires constant attention. Her medication is also not cheap. My younger brother is at university and calls at the worst times asking for money for books, printing, and whatever trendy thing students suddenly need.
I want to help everyone, but my bank account has its limits. So, I’ve started keeping a tiny buffer just for “family emergencies,” while also praying that there are not a lot of those.
Tiny Victories
Running a skincare business from my apartment is like raising a baby that smells nice but decides when and when not to sleep. Some weeks, orders flood in and I feel like I have it under control. Other weeks, I check my dashboard and the silence is deafening.
I dream of a proper shop someday, a place where my soaps and oils do not live in Tupperware on my balcony. But dreams cost money, and money is tight.
So, I improvise.
I keep my production costs low by being smart about sourcing and using ingredients. I negotiate with suppliers when I can, and I try not to cry when things go off plan.
Through all this, I’ve realized that figuring out how to save money on a low income does not happen by magic. It happens when you start small, even when life feels impossible.
What I’ve Been Learning
Here are some tips that have helped me on my savings journey.
- Track everything: I try to log in every cent, even the R5 I spent on coffee. It sounds obsessive, but it keeps me honest.
- Automate small transfers: I started with R200 a month into a savings account. It does not feel like much, but at the end of the year, it is a whole weekend getaway or a solid stock of new supplies.
- Negotiate wherever possible: Suppliers, landlords, even my younger brother sometimes. Just kidding on the last one.
- Learn to say no: Not every favor is urgent, and not every request is mine to fulfill.
Some weeks I fail spectacularly. Other weeks, I succeed. At the end of the day, it is really about consistency, not perfection.
Juggling Ambition, Guilt, and Self-Care
I joke a lot, but inside there is tension. Guilt, ambition, and desire for freedom wrestle in my chest. Ending my last relationship showed me how finances can fracture love, and how ambition can sometimes feel selfish. Yet, I’ve realised that taking care of myself is not selfish, it is survival.
Sometimes, I lie in bed at night, staring at my tiny savings balance, wondering if all this effort will pay off. Trying to save while juggling family and business feels impossible on some days. Then I remember my dream, a real shop, a life I can own fully. That dream makes the struggle worth it.
Small Wins That Feel Huge
This World Savings Day, I celebrate the wins no one sees, the first deposit that stayed untouched, the small orders that add up, and the moment I realised I do not have to choose between family and self-care. They can coexist with boundaries.
Learning how to save money on a low income is hard, really hard, but it is also empowering. Every rand tucked away is a step closer to freedom, independence, and a little more peace.
And me? I’ll keep building, laughing, negotiating, and yes, occasionally crying (Don’t judge me!). Because saving is not just about money. It is about proving to myself that even in chaos, I can carve out a life I love.
